Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-04-29
VOL. XIV.
THE LAND OF FLOWERS.
WONDERFUL RESOURCES OF THE
FLORIDA PENINSULA.
Advantages Of Soil and Climate
New and Growing Industries
Prosperity Since the War.

~~S' AANA NOhlhlClCC anu DuSluGSH 0du
been exceedingly limited, and the old
time inhabitants were almost as destitute
Of enterprise as native Spaniards or Mexi-
cans. In 1860 there were only 4O2 miles
OF railway in the State; and, in fact, the
mileage was not much greater than this
so late as 1880. Now it is nearly 1000.
Formerly the chief industries, if they
might be dignifed by that name, of the
inhabitants were raising cotton in
pertunctory way, and fishing. Some
lumber was also marketed, and some
fruits and vegetables. But the GREAT
trult industry in the Florida of to-day
was then undreamt of. Florida, unlike
her sister States, was not obliged to re-
cover great prosperity sacrificed by the
war. Almost all her prosperity has come
to her since the war.
The principal sources of this new and
phenomenal prosperity have been the cul-
tlyatlon IN recent years of the orange and
other fruits, and the utilization of the
State as a sanitarium for Northern in.
valids. Besides these bases of wealth the
States derives considerable profit from
her fisheries, from cotton, from cattle,
from tobacco and from early vegetables.
The development of the orange industry
there has attracted the attention of the
whole world.
In 1880 the crop of oranges in Florida
was estimated at about 100, 900 boxes, of
100 oranges each. The increase since
then has been pretty steady, and in 1885
the estimated crop was 1000, 900 boxes
an astounding advance in five years
The orange area, under actual cultivation,
is supposed to be at present about 80, 900
acres, or more than half of the land area
of the State. A great many disappoint-
ments and disasters have been suffered by
orange raisers with insufficient capital,
but the fact that it is a profitable and
prosperous industry, on the whole, is
self-evident.
Florida is peninsular state, and has
the longest water line of any of the
states. 1t is not strange, therefore, that
the inhabitants should pay consider
able attention to fishing. From the
earliest times, indeed, the coast fisheries
OF Florida have been an important in
duStry. In addition to the catch for home
consumption, there has always been a
considerable expectation of fresh and
salted fish. especially to the West India
islands. This industry is now rapidly
developing. Some think that the mullet
fisheries of Florida will soon equal the cod
fisheries of New England. Besides null
let, the Florida waters are the home of
vast numbers of groupers, red snappers,
shad and sponges; and the estimated
value of the South Florida fish catch in
1881 alone was 81, 100000. The sponge
product of the state is of considerable
dimensions, approximating last year
$3.50, 900 in value.
The State has vast quantities of pine
timber, and the lumber product is be-
coming important, and is destined to be
very great. In the pine woods, swamps
and prairies of the southern part of
the state there are numerous herds of
cattle, the breeding and raising of which
is a matter of small difficulty; and this
has been, and still continues to be, one of
the chief sources of wealth to the Florida
people. During the last ten years there
were exported from Key West to Cuba
1853, 600 head of cattle, netting the ex-
porters $2,500,000. This expectation
has nearly ceased of late, owing to the
state of political and financial affairs in
Cuba; but the cattle men expect to find
new markets further north, and will
doubtless do so.
Aside from oranges, the record of
Florida in the fruit and vegetable line, of
late years, is a very creditable one. All
crops, whether of fruits or vegetables,
mature so much earlier there than further
north that the producers receive for them
double or treble what northern prod Icers
receive. The raising of early vegetables
for shipment to northern markets is be-
coming matter of great moment in
Florida. The business, which began in
small way near Fernandina and Jack
sonville, few years ago, has already as
sured extensive proportions. In south
Florida, tomatoes, cucumbers and beans
are the leading vegetable products for
shipment. They can be grown there at
seasons of the year which command for
the producers what amounts to COM
plete monopoly. Tomatoes have realized,
in many cases, $500, 5000 and $700 to
the acre. The great drawback, therefore,
to the early market gardeners has been
the lack of adequate transportation fa-
cilities; but this want is to be soon sup
piled. The potato and sweel potato
thrive in Florida, and the early crops
bring big prices in the North.
Strawberry culture is coming more and
more into prominence in Florida. The
production and shipment of this highly
esteemed article of food constitute a
rapidly growing industry there, and
Florida strawberries. as is well known,
monopolize the market during January,
February and march. Blackberries grow
wild all over the State in great profu-
sion, and an effort to improve and culti-
vate them must soon be made, with large
profits to those making the endeavor.
Melons of every variety, and of the most
delicious flavor, abound in the State.
Among the fruits, the banaua is be-
coming one Of the most profitable The
citron, the pineapple, the cocoanut, the
date palm, the guava, the sugar apple,
the pomegranate, the coffee plant, the
mango the sappadillo, the pear, the
plum, the peach, the grape, the fig, the
pecan, all abound and thrive there. To-
bacco of excellent quality is raised in
laIge quantities, as smokers of Key West
cegars are aware Honey, too, is rapidly
becoming a staple product, the climate
and fora being especially congenial to
the bee. Even in the winter months
there is a supply of flowers quite suffi-
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